User2 Computers

IT Support with User2 Computers!

User2 have been providing ad hoc business IT support and maintenance for over 20 years. The following are just some of the reasons why a formal IT support contract can make good economic sense for any business or charity.
Why consider an IT support contract?

-You're a Growing Business - When looking after your own IT maintenance, valuable time can be eaten up. Could this time be better spent liaising with customers and growing your business?
-Proactive Maintenance - Catching IT failures before they happen leading to reduced downtime and increased productivity.
-Knowledge and Expertise - You're lacking the know how to get the most out of your IT. It's possible that a simple upgrade could transform the way you work.
-Data Security - Concern about the new GDPR legislation, data backups, disaster recovery or virus infections make you nervous ?
-Existing support not up to scratch? Are you being let down by your current IT supplier? Maybe now is the time for a refreshing change.
-Your own IT department - Having IT support is like having your own IT department at a fraction of the cost. Furthermore, it will free up time for you to run your business.
-Value for money - A home business IT support contract costs from less than £ 1 per day. Whereas typical small business IT support can cost less than the price of lunch per day... without the calories.
-Flexible - An initial contract term is for 1 year, payable monthly. Thereafter, support is on a one month rolling basis so you're not tied into any lengthy contract. We believe that our support should speak for itself

What I need to know?

-Free site survey - We will carry out a free IT site survey for any local business. Apart from an informative chat, this would cover any IT issues of concern. In addition we will assess the age and suitability of the hardware, network, security, data back ups and software. Finally we will produce a report advising the best way forward to support and enhance your IT
-What support do I need - You're free to choose simple telephone support, remote assistance or a full on site contract. You can also select to have only business critical machines covered if preferred. The choice is entirely yours
-Proactive monitoring - Firstly, we will implement any IT upgrades agreed. Thereafter, proactive monitoring means we can often resolve problems before you are aware of them
-Rapid Response - Our support engineers can be onsite within the day when telephone or remote repairs are not feasible. For serious hardware failures, stand by equipment can be supplied. In this way, your business keeps moving whilst your own hardware is repaired or replaced.
-Contact Terms - We won't tie you into any long term contracts. Our initial 1 year contract term payable monthly, is followed on a rolling monthly basis. We believe that our service and support will speak for itself.

Call us today on 0131 662 99 55.

Warhammer at User2 Computers

Games Workshop is the largest and the most successful hobby miniatures company in the world. Their brands include Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 tabletop games. At its core the Hobby is all about amazing miniatures and collecting, modelling, painting. Also playing games with armies of them are activities enjoyed by millions of people all across the world.

User2 Computers is proud to be in partnership with Game Workshop as an official stockist starting in 2021 !

In store you will find a selection of model kits and accessories from major brands Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000. As well as boxed games and a selection of paint and accessories. Anything that we do not carry as stock can easily be ordered with shipping as fast as next day at no extra cost.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000 are not just limited to a physical hobby however, new PC games are a regular part of the Games Workshop universe. Games such as Total War and Dawn of War franchises have a large following. For these games and more User2 is well accustomed to building bespoke gaming PC’s .

Refurbished PCs from User2 Computers.

Refurbished PCs not only save you money but can often outperform new ones. Typically our refurbished systems have little to no signs of wear and can be bought at a fraction of the cost of buying new. They can also be upgraded with additional RAM or an SSD to give performance that exceeds a lot of new machines.

We offer a large selection of refurbished PCs of varying specification for home and business users. All budgets are covered and we can supply PCs in full or without peripherals such as keyboard and mouse to ensure you only pay for what you need.
Who should buy a refurbished PC:

The simple answer to this is nearly everyone. Unless the latest cutting edge technology is required for gaming or high end workstations, refurbished may be the way forward.

- Schools - Let us know the specification of your existing PCs and budget to upgrade your school fleet to faster machines
- Charities - If you are on a limited budget, refurbished would be the best route to upgrade
- Businesses - The vast majority of our systems come with Windows 10 Professional which is ideal for business. We also stock a range of computers with older software for when serial or parallel ports are needed. This is particularly useful for industrial purposes.
- Home - Great for internet browsing, emails, office work and all standard uses. In addition we also have fantastic mini PCs suitable for media servers.

Why a refurbished PC:
1.Source - Sourced from reputable suppliers within the UK and refurbished in-house by our engineers
2.Quality - Business class PCs from brands such as HP, Dell and Fujitsu ensure better quality and longevity than a lot of home retail PCs
3.Reliable - All systems come with a minimum of 6 months warranty as standard. And performance is often better than a lot of new machines
4.Upgradable - We often upgrade with a new SSD, additional RAM or dedicated graphics to ensure you stay ahead of the curve
5.Licensed - Unlike some of our competitors all our refurbished PCs come with fully licensed software where applicable
6.Safe - Every PC is freshly installed and configured by our own engineers with all previous data securely removed
7.Clean - Each system is fully cleaned both outside and internally
8.Certified - User2 is a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher and Which? Trusted Trader to give you that extra peace of mind
9.Value - With pricing at a fraction of a new PC with excellent performance and reliability assured, a refurbished PC represents excellent value
If you have any questions then the next step is to give us a call on 0131 662 99 55 and speak to one of our experienced engineers. As a Which? Trusted Trader you can be assured of receiving the best possible service.

Tech Insight : Windows 11

With the launch of Microsoft’s Windows 11 recently announced in an online event, we take a brief look at what’s new with this new OS, how it challenges Apple, and when it’s available.

Early Preview + Free Update

An early preview version of the new Microsoft Windows 11, next generation OS will be released for app developers next week and will be made available as a free update to existing Windows 10 users, provided their devices have a minimum of 64 gigabytes of storage and 4 gigabytes of RAM (see Windows 11 spec requirements here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications). Windows 10 is currently running on a staggering 1.3 billion devices!

Warning

It has been reported that due to Windows 11 only supporting eighth generation and newer Intel Core processors, as well as Apollo Lake, and newer types of Pentium and Celeron processors, as things stand, the new Windows 11 may not be able to run on many computers.

Also, with Microsoft Windows 11, the required “hard floor” (minimum configuration) is that a device needs a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip (a type of security chip used for things like storing passwords and encryption keys) to run it. This means that without this type of chip, Windows can’t be run on a device, and even with devices that meet the “soft floor”, it looks as though they may receive a notification that an upgrade to Windows 11 is not advisable. The Windows PC Health Check app should be able to tell you if your PC can support Windows 11. You can download the app here: https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp.

Some Key Points

Provided Windows 11 does run on your computer, some key points to note about the new OS are that:

– For upgrading from Windows 10, the upgrade roll-out plan is not yet finalised but Microsoft says it will begin “late in 2021 and continue into 2022”.

– PCs with Windows 11 pre-installed will be only available later this year.

– The new OS is based on the code of Windows 10 which should minimize new glitches and favour continuity of experience.

– Teams is built-in to Windows 11. This integration is designed to strengthen Microsoft’s position in its battle (heightened during pandemic remote working) with competing cloud-based, collaborative working and communication platforms e.g., Slack and Zoom.

– Android apps can run on the Windows desktop laptops and PCs and a new Windows Store lets software developers use their own in-app payment systems (and pay no commissions to Microsoft). This move by Microsoft is likely to be deliberately in contrast to rival Apple’s “walled garden” approach to developer software downloads and Apple’s in-app payment systems (and pay commissions of up to 30%).

– It’s good news for gamers (individual users) as Xbox Games Pass comes pre-installed.

– Desktop layouts can be more easily customized e.g., using Snap layouts, news, information, and entertainment can be more easily curated by the user (through Widgets and Edge).

Obvious Changes

– The ‘Start’ menu is in the bottom-middle position rather than bottom-left. It’s worth noting also that your pinned apps and sites may not migrate when you update from Windows 10 and Live Tiles are no longer available.

– There are some changes to the Taskbar e.g., People no longer present, some icons not appearing in the System Tray, alignment to the bottom of the screen is the only location allowed, and apps can’t customize parts of the Taskbar.

– You can no longer find/use the Timeline (similar functionality has been added to Microsoft Edge).

– As expected, Internet Explorer is totally disabled, thereby completing the move to Edge.

Other Changes To Note

– Users can more easily and seamlessly undock a computer from an external monitor e.g., to take a call in another (quieter room) and then return to the docking station. This is likely to appeal to business users.

– Apps such as 3D Viewer, OneNote for Windows 10, Paint 3D (most people just use Paint) and Skype won’t be removed on upgrade but won’t be installed on new devices or in clean installing of Windows 11. Instead, they’ll simply be available from the Store.

– Microsoft is including tools in Windows 11 to tip/reward/motivate content creators and local news outlets.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

This is the first new version of Windows for 6 years and is clearly aimed at competing with Apple’s App Store business model, challenging Alphabet Inc’s/Google Play Store, encouraging/helping developers, and content creators, and appealing more to business/corporate users with some of its improved features and integrated Teams. It is a shame, and somewhat confusing, therefore, that many machines may not have the (chip) spec to run Windows 11. It remains to be seen how this situation plays out before the full release date later in the year.

That said, Microsoft announced on Thursday that (for those who can successfully run Windows 11) it will include new tools for tipping content creators – including local news outlets – directly in the Windows 11 operating system. The company recently cut commissions on games sold through the store to 12 percent, which is lower than the 15 percent it takes on regular apps and has been a critic of Apple’s App Store. Visually and organizationally, the centered start menu, customization, and curation options, plus the cleaned up “creative space” is designed to endear itself more to users in an Apple-like way and give greater control but not feel like a drastic, hard to master change. Businesses will have to wait until an unspecified ‘later in the year’ date to experience Windows 11 for themselves, by which time more should be known about any changes to the chip “hard floor” and any other glitches that may be revealed by those trying the developer version.

New Laptops at User2 Computers

As well as refurbished models, we also stock new laptops in both our Edinburgh stores. With so many laptop options and manufacturers to choose from it can be confusing. User2 will provide you with the information and an unbiased opinion to help you make the right choice. We can supply all the big name brands. Furthermore, new laptops we don't have in stock can normally be sourced within one or two business days. Once you have made your choice, we will provide a professional custom setup for you. This ensures it is fully updated and ready to go, with unnecessary "bloatware" removed and useful applications and settings configured. Most other retailers just hand over the box and you're on your own. The following guideline should hopefully point you in the right direction.

New Laptop Guideline:

1.Netbooks - Typically with low CPU and RAM specifications, small 10" - 11" screen. Can have very small storage but long battery life.
2.Ultra-books - Generally higher end CPU's and better build quality. Lightweight, sleek and without a DVD-RW. Screen sizes generally from 11 - 14" with some featuring touch screens.
3.Standard Laptops - The most common screen sizes are from 13.3 - 15.6" with prices from around £ 300. Don't expect good performance until you start to pay much more though. HP, Lenovo, Acer, Asus, Toshiba and Dell are the common brands.
4.Gaming Laptops - With sizes from 15.6" - 17.3" full HD screen, Intel i5 and i7 CPUs and SSDs are commonly found. Another essential component is a decent dedicated graphics card for gaming performance. Also suitable for CAD and other graphics design work. Expect to pay over £ 700 for an entry level gaming laptop but prices can go well over £ 2000. Typical makes are Acer, Asus, MSI, Gigabyte and HP.
5.Hybrid Laptops - Becoming increasingly popular with the functionality of a laptop and the portability and ease of use of a tablet. Repair costs for these can be uneconomic.
6.Chromebooks - If you want a lightweight laptop without the Windows operating system or Microsoft applications then a Google based Chromebook may suit you.
7.Business Class Laptops - Business laptops generally have a more robust chassis, hinge construction and added features. The professional version of Windows is standard which is essential if connecting to a domain server network. Additionally it has embedded Bitlocker data encryption for added security. Look for Sim card and fingerprint readers, and ports such as a mini display port.
8.SSD or HDD - Choose a solid state drive (SSD) for fast boot times and blistering performance. A standard hard drive is better for large data storage and some high end laptops have both.
9.What CPU - Choose Core i5, i7 or higher end AMD CPU for demanding CAD, design or gaming applications. Some lower performance processors such as Atom CPU's provide for long battery lives.
10.Battery life - This can vary from less than 2 hours for a gaming laptop, up to 10 hours plus for a small Ultra-book or Chromebook with low specification CPU.

Whatever kind of laptop you decide to go for, we will be able to assist.

When you have made your decision, we would normally take a small deposit and your dream machine would be available for collection within a couple of days. You can choose whether to take advantage of our in store setup service or whether you are happy doing that yourself.

If replacing an older PC or laptop, we can transfer some applications, valuable data and emails for you for an additional cost.

Finally, for great value, we also offer a range of quality refurbished laptops which often exceed the performance of new laptops.